10 Things To Remember When Dating A Strong Woman

Western society has this odd notion that strong, independent women are something of a new phenomenon. I’d argue that women have always been strong, we’re just now choosing to acknowledge it. At any rate, strong women are those who don’t rely on anyone else to make their way through life. They do whatever it takes to reach their goals. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t want an equally strong partner by their side along the way.

1. Strong women are always on a mission

Strong women are deliberate in their planning. They know where they want to be in life and they set a clear path in order to get there. They always keep their eye on the goal. If you’ve found yourself dating a strong woman, know that you must fit into her greater plan somewhere.

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2. Strong women go for what they want

After they set their plans in motion, strong women stop at nothing until they reach their goals. They don’t settle for second best or “good enough.” They’ll reach for the stars, and won’t be happy until they get there. Again, if you’re currently in a relationship with a strong woman, be sure that you’re the one she wants, because she’s not settling for anything less than perfection.

3. Strong women take action

Strong women don’t wait for others to catch up or for someone else to give them the “go ahead.” If a job offer comes up that your girlfriend or wife has been working hard for, don’t expect her to feel the need to discuss it with you first. If some handiwork is required around the house, don’t expect her to wait until you get home to dive right in and fix it. Don’t feel emasculated — how do you think she got so far in life in the first place?

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4. Strong women are independent

Strong women don’t need anyone else in their lives. They take action when something needs to be done and can carry their own. They’re not looking for someone to support them in a relationship — they’re looking for someone to grow with them. Don’t feel like you need to be the one bringing home the bacon, but don’t slack off, either. She’s her own woman, and if you’re not growing with her, she won’t need you around.

5. Strong women don’t mind being alone

A strong woman sometimes needs time to herself. After a long day of work, she probably doesn’t want to run up to her man and put on the lovey-dovey housewife act. She might just need some time to rest and reflect on her day. Remember, she doesn’t live for you, so don’t expect her to go all puppy-dog eyed when you get home.

6. Strong women have strong friends

Strong, independent women have friends with similar personalities. When they get together, you’re more likely to hear them discussing business mergers than gossipy office rumors. Although it may be intimidating to be in a room full of women who are talking over your head, you should definitely admire the drive and determination they all have.

7. Strong women crave knowledge and skill building

Strong women are constantly learning and working to improve themselves. They don’t waste time on frivolous TV or social media garbage when they could be reading or taking a class to further themselves. Be prepared to be active if you’re dating a strong woman. She’ll always be open to new experiences, so you’d better be ready to expand your comfort zone along with her.

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8. Strong women have strong values

Strong women are not morally bankrupt, and they certainly don’t waver in their stances on certain topics. Expect her to stand up for what she believes in, and be prepared to be by her side when she takes action for a cause.

9. Strong women have a purpose

Strong women don’t just have goals, they have a purpose for setting these goals. Of course, their goals most likely align with their value system. They view themselves as incredibly important, and they know they have the power to change the world for the better. Support their goals, and help to give them an even bigger purpose.

10. Strong women will show their soft side if they trust you

Strong women aren’t immune to feeling sad, lonely, or defeated — regardless of how independent they are. However, they’ll only let their guard down around people they trust, such as family, good friends, and loved ones. If your strong-willed wife or girlfriend trusts you enough to bare her soul to you, know that you’re one of the most important people in her life. And realize you have a good thing going — don’t mess it up.

7 Ways To Deal With Negative People

Some people will have a rain cloud hanging over them, no matter what the weather is outside. Their negative attitude is toxic to your own moods, and you probably feel like there is little you can do about it.

But that couldn’t be farther from the truth.

If you want to effectively deal with negative people and be a champion of positivity, then your best route is to take definite action through some of the steps below.

1. Limit the time you spend with them.

First, let’s get this out of the way. You can be more positive than a cartoon sponge, but even your enthusiasm has a chance of being afflicted by the constant negativity of a friend.

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In fact, negativity has been proven to damage your health physically, making you vulnerable to high levels of stress and even cardiac disease. There’s no reason to get hurt because of someone else’s bad mood.

Though this may be a little tricky depending on your situation, working to spend slightly less time around negative people will keep your own spirits from slipping as well.

2. Speak up for yourself.

Don’t just absorb the comments that you are being bombarded with, especially if they are about you. It’s wise to be quick to listen and slow to speak, but being too quiet can give the person the impression that you are accepting what’s being said.

3. Don’t pretend that their behavior is “OK.”

This is an easy trap to fall into. Point out to the person that their constant negativity isn’t a good thing. We don’t want to do this because it’s far easier to let someone sit in their woes, and we’d rather just stay out of it.

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But if you want the best for this person, avoid giving the false impression that their negativity is normal.

4. Don’t make their problems your problems.

Though I consider empathy a gift, it can be a dangerous thing. When we hear the complaints of a friend or family member, we typically start to take on their burdens with them.

This is a bad habit to get into, especially if this is a person who is almost exclusively negative. These types of people are prone to embellishing and altering a story in order to gain sympathy.

Why else would they be sharing this with you?

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5. Change the subject.

When you suspect that a conversation is starting to take a turn for the negative, be a champion of positivity by changing the subject. Of course, you have to do this without ignoring what the other person said.

Acknowledge their comment, but move the conversation forward before the euphoric pleasure gained from complaining takes hold of either of you.

6. Talk about solutions, not problems.

Sometimes, changing the subject isn’t an option if you want to deal with negative people, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still be positive.

I know that when someone begins dumping complaints on me, I have a hard time knowing exactly what to say. The key is to measure your responses as solution-based.

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You can do this by asking questions like, “Well, how could this be resolved?” or, “How do you think they feel about it?”

Use discernment to find an appropriate response that will help your friend manage their perspectives.

7. Leave them behind.

Sadly, there are times when we have to move on without these friends, especially if you have exhausted your best efforts toward building a positive relationship.

If this person is a family member, you can still have a functioning relationship with them, of course, but you may still have to limit the influence they have over your wellbeing.

That being said, what are some steps you’ve taken to deal with negative people? Let us know in the comments.